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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. KAMPE.

PIANO ACTION.

No. 367,210. Patented July 26,1887.

FICZJ.

71 (Zn/eases 1 fru/ E01 1 OYAXXLAM \S. 10mm a/mjba 368m 6. 0W: y M 9 3 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. KAMPE.

PIANO ACTION.

Patented July 26, 1887.

Inventor uluywst Kain be 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

A. KAMPE.

PIANO ACTION.

No. 367,210. Patented July 26, 1887.

Imam/601' Wiifiesses I I 8 M G "2 has OZELOI'MZG a PETERS, Pholn-Lnnognphur, Wnhingtom 0.1: I

25 hammer 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST KAMPE, or Moscow, RUSSIA.

PIANO-ACTION.

51 E CIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent; No. 367,210, dated July 26, 1887.

Application filed January 29. IP87.

. with precision of action.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side View of one form of my improved mechanism. Fig. 2 is a view of a modification. Fig. 2 illustrates a modification of a detail of [5 the construction. Fig. 3 is a viewillustrating the application of my improvements to an up right piano, and Fig. 3 is a view of a modification in one of the details.

Referring to Fig. l, Ais the rear end of one of the keys, and on this is mounted a regulating-platc, B, adjustable by means ofscrews. To this regulating-plate is pivoted the angular lever I), having a step, 0, on which normally rests the rod a, carried by and pivoted to the This hammer O, which on the depression of the corresponding key is adapted to strike the string Z, is pivoted in any usual way to the longitudinal bar D, the rear end or head of the hammer being supported when it 0 falls back by the padded pin q, fixed to the end of the key.

To the cross-bar D is fiXeda plate, t, which carries at its lower end an adjustable stop, 19, for each lever 12. This plate talso carries a spring, 0, having at its inner end the stop or support d for each rod a. The action of this spring is regulated by a suitable screw, 0.

When the key is pressed and its inner end consequently raised. the hammer O is caused to rise and strike the string Z through the action of the rod a. At the same time the horizontal arm of the lever 1) comes into contact with the stop 1), and being held back thereby the vertical arm of the lever b presses against 4 5 the rod a,so as to cause the latter to slide oft the stop 0. In consequence the hammer 0 falls back from the string onto the support q, and when the key is left free onto the stationary cross-bar E. The stop don the spring c,press- 5o ing against the projection a of the rod a, prevents the latter from being thrown too far Serial No. 225,929. (No model.)

when the key is struck violently, and also causes the return of the rod a onto the stop 0 when the key is released.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 2, I have shown the spring 0 and its stop d, and also the stop 10, as carried by a bar, S, on the fixed cross-bar E, and the position of the lever b is accordingly reversed.

In order to make sure that the rod a and lever Z) shall always be in line, a pin or arm,f, on the rod may be adapted to a slot in the lever b, as illustrated in Fig. 2; or a curved finger, f, on the lever may be adapted to a slot in the rod, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

To regulate the action of the spring c,the latter may be carried by a knife-edged block, e, Figs. 2 and 3, adjustably secured by setscrews. The vertical arm of the lever b is in any case curved on itsinner face, as illustrated in the drawings,and a correspondingly-curved projection, a", on the rod a is provided in order to insure the hammers falling back from the strings, even when the keys are pressed quite slowly.

If desired, springs G G may be provided, one adj nstably mounted on the hammerO and the other adj ustably mounted on the rod a and connected to each other, so that by the adjustment of these springs the action may be rendered easy or hardthat is to say, the springs can be adjusted so as to more or less counterbalance the hammer O, to give an easy action, or, on the other hand, to tend to draw the hammer O downward, with the effect of making the action harder.

The lever b is so made of wood that the fibers of the wood shall lie parallel to the smooth surface on which the lower end of the rod on slides, so that the step 0 will always remain smooth and not be affected by the action of moisture, as where the ordinary cross-grain is employed. The motion of the rod will always, therefore, be uniform and regular.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 the described mechanism will be understood without further explanation; but in connection therewith I have shown a mute or dampening action. The mute It for the string Z is carried The lower the strings.

end of the lever i is pivoted to a link, h, which is provided with an adjustable cushion, h, bearing against the inclined face of a projection, d, on the raising-rod a. The link h is preferably, also, provided with a guidepin, h", passing through a corresponding slot in the rod a, and serving to prevent the link h from moving sidewise.

It will be understood that when the rod a is raised by the mechanism described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 the projection (1 will push the levere? over and raise the mute from hen it is desired to raise all the mutes at once, this can be done by means ofa small turning-rod, 2, hinged to the bar D, as usual.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the key ofa piano, carrying a pivoted angular lever, b, with the hammer O, carrying a rod, a, a fixed stop, 1), and a support, (I, for the lever, all substantially as described.

2. The combination ofthekey ofapiano,and an angular lever, b, pivoted thereto, and having a step, 0, with a hammer having a pivoted rod, a, adapted to rest on the said step, which has its fibers parallel with the movement of the rod on the step.

3. The combination of the key, and angular lever pivoted thereto, havinga curved face on its upper arm, with the hammer having apivotcd rod provided with a curved face to be acted on by the said lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST KAHPE.

Witnesses:

F. KAUPE, N. TSOI-IEKALOFF. 

